Airbus and ENGIE Ineo to provide the future communications network for controlling French military air operations

6 February 2017 - The consortium consisting of ENGIE Ineo as prime contractor and Airbus Defence and Space as co-contractor has been awarded the DESCARTES STCA contract to deliver a high-availability communications network to control the air operations of the French Ministry of Defence. This eight-year contract signed with the French defence procurement agency (DGA) is part of the DESCARTES programme.

DESCARTES STCA will provide forces involved in air operations with an Internet-Protocol (IP) based, secure, cross-site telephone service to allow military missions to be carried out consistently with civil air traffic control and NATO networks, and to contribute to the implementation of the single European sky. The contract covers the design, deployment and support of the operational telephone system as well as the security system meeting air traffic control’s very high availability and resilience requirements. It will be rolled out on around 60 sites in mainland France.

"As a supplier of terrestrial or satellite networks for the most modern armed forces worldwide, including those of France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Canada, the United States and NATO, Airbus is proud to be participating in the DESCARTES programme," said Eric Souleres, Head of French business for the Communications, Intelligence & Security business line, at Airbus Defence and Space.

"ENGIE Ineo has proven expertise in the field of complex systems with high operational requirements. Our teams address challenges in defence and security by making information and communications systems the top priority of our strategic focus," said Emmanuel Barthoux, Deputy Head of Ineo Defence.

The DESCARTES programme is designed to upgrade all the infrastructure networks of the French Ministry of Defence to meet increased bandwidth, service quality as well as cyber security requirements.. The programme includes a "general use" aspect designed to meet the needs of inter-ministerial initiatives in this area. It also includes a "resilient", highly secure aspect, able to operate even in the event of a serious crisis, in particular for the benefit of nuclear deterrence, joint services territorial organisation command, continuous air security and air traffic control communications.

About Airbus

Airbus is a global leader in aeronautics, space and related services. In 2015, it generated revenues of €64.5 billion and employed a workforce of around 136,600. Airbus offers the most comprehensive range of passenger airliners from 100 to more than 600 seats. Airbus is also a European leader providing tanker, combat, transport and mission aircraft, as well as Europe’s number one space enterprise and the world’s second largest space business. In helicopters, Airbus provides the most efficient civil and military rotorcraft solutions worldwide.

As a creator of solutions for connected urban areas and neighbourhoods (electrical solutions, communications and information systems), ENGIE Ineo has more than 15,000 employees working to meet the needs of a changing world. In 2015, it reported revenues of €2.4 billion. With a network of 300 facilities in France and abroad, ENGIE Ineo’s teams innovate to support their customers in the energy and digital transition. They support them in transport, telecommunications and energy infrastructures projects, service sector and industrial projects, as well as security and defence projects. From design through to production, maintenance and operation, ENGIE Ineo’s experts imagine and anticipate tomorrow’s needs by developing solutions combining technical and cost-effective performance. ENGIE Ineo is part of the ENGIE Group, one of the leading energy companies worldwide.